Desert railway - photo

[Altair]

Desert railway in Northwest China's Gansu province.




Previously:

Train exiting the Tehachapi Loop - GIF
Marine railway; only one in North America - GIF
Railway that intersects soccer field - photo

[Frank S]

Just think the way dunes are so fluid in their movements even though areas of that rail are several meters above the surface one day the sand will cover the rails. But at least the Chinese had the fore thought to built it high in the beginning

[mwmkravchenko]

When you go there and see all the work done in infrastructure it really takes you aback. There is nothing in North America even close.
These people are not afraid to think big and work hard to get it done.

Those qualities are something I'm afraid are gone in Canada and the U.S.

[mklotz]

More details on the difficulties this RR had to conquer...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingha...3Tibet_railway

[Beserkleyboy]

Mate, isn't the the truth! The whole rail network over there blew my mind...the concrete sleepers laid on reinforced concrete beds and well ground welded rails allows an absolutely flat ride...at 250kph... after looking at Marv's link (thanks Marv), I found this one. 500M long rails! Lots wrong in China with treatment of some peoples, but their commitment to infrastructure building is amazing...Thanks for the heads up Jon.
Jim in burnt out NSW AUS...nearly 11 million hectares...so far...

[jimfols]

16,000 feet with a diesel engine. Who woulda thunk it? That's jet engine territory. Thanks all.

[sossol]

When you go there and see all the work done in infrastructure it really takes you aback. There is nothing in North America even close.
These people are not afraid to think big and work hard to get it done.

Those qualities are something I'm afraid are gone in Canada and the U.S.

They also have more workers than work, so more takers for the low-wage grunt work. Much like the US had once upon a time.

Neil

[mwmkravchenko]

They also have more workers than work, so more takers for the low-wage grunt work. Much like the US had once upon a time.

Neil

I've worked in China off and on for 7 years. Be careful when you think that they are all hard done by dollar a day workers. You couldn't be more wrong. The average person in China earns a wage that is comfortable enough in China. It wouldn't work in the U.S. but for where they are they are doing just fine. To much political baloney has been spread about the working people in China. When you are there it is quite an eye opener. In a great many ways China is far ahead of most Western countries. And like many Western countries has areas that are. Telecoms, Payments. Everything can be paid for with your cellphone if you want. People work hard because they are a money driven community. Money is a security. As of now there is no state run pension system. There is no personal income tax. Wouldn't that be nice!

When I'm there I can get things made at very high quality standards by very skilled people for usually less than the cost of the raw material here in Canada. And what blows me away is that everyone in the chain of supply, purchase and production is still making a living. Nothing is free in China.

And knowing factory owners I can tell you first hand that there are indeed shortages of workers. It all depends where and when. Just like any other larger country.

[Beserkleyboy]

Thanks for that info, mate. We were only there as tourists for 3 weeks. I'm nearly the tour guide's PIA...asking too many questions about the workings of the economy and infrastructure! I sensed what you say re: wages and standard of living. The average 20-40 yr old seem quite content with their lot in life, but mind you, are very protective of saying ANYTHING that could be construed as against the 'state'. If I may ask, what sort of work did you do there? Cheers

Jim

[mwmkravchenko]

Thanks for that info, mate. We were only there as tourists for 3 weeks. I'm nearly the tour guide's PIA...asking too many questions about the workings of the economy and infrastructure! I sensed what you say re: wages and standard of living. The average 20-40 yr old seem quite content with their lot in life, but mind you, are very protective of saying ANYTHING that could be construed as against the 'state'. If I may ask, what sort of work did you do there? Cheers

Jim

I design loudspeaker drivers for a few companies all over the world. I get them manufactured by an American owned factory run in Guangzhou Southern China.